Brides dash for prizes at Nebraska City Bridal Show

Attendance doubled at the Nebraska City Bridal Show on Sunday and brides had opportunity to dash for a $1,000 wedding dress and other prizes.Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce reports there were 95 entries in the bride-only prize drawing and many were on hand for the dress give-away sponsored by A Bridal Boutique & Tu...

Attendance doubled at the Nebraska City Bridal Show on Sunday and brides had opportunity to dash for a $1,000 wedding dress and other prizes.

Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce reports there were 95 entries in the bride-only prize drawing and many were on hand for the dress give-away sponsored by A Bridal Boutique & Tux in Bellevue.

Rather than drawing a name out of the entries box, wedding outfitter Margie Guy assembled the brides at one end of the room and dumped out the entries on the other side.

The bride who could retrieve her name and present it to Guy first would win the dress. Laura Rumery was first to present her name.

Guy also challenged brides with two $500 gift certificates, a $250 gift certificate and six $100 gift certificates.

There were 38 door prizes, including matching wedding bands won by Bethany Creek of Omaha.

The grand prize drawing had 87 entries, showing they entrant had visited at least 20 vendors while there.

The prize, an overnight stay at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center, was won by Chris Keene. She plans to give the prize to her engaged daughter.

The “Destination Heartland” show included programs on choosing your wedding music by Harris Academy, honeymoon wardrobing by Jockey Person to Person, truth about shopping for a wedding dress by A Bridal Boutique and the importance of skin care by Arbonne International.

Attire for the fashion show was provided by A Bridal Boutique and Pantorium Cleaners.

Rebecca Turner of NCTC said the vendors reported several bookings and were pleased with activity.

Rose Ralstin of NCTC said weddings continue to play an important part of Nebraska City's economy.

In 2012, Table Creek hosted 17 weddings at an average cost of $2,500 for a total of $42,000.

Arbor Day Farm hosted 48 weddings at an average cost of $9,000 for a total of $432,000.

“These are only two of the locations that host weddings throughout the year and both of these are reporting that bookings are on pace to match or exceed these numbers this year,” Ralstin said.

She said the average U.S. wedding costs $25,630 and an average of 138 guests attend each one to show the economic impact of the wedding industry.